Mike Oldfield's songs are pretty hard to describe, especially his early work. His more pop stuff in the 80s are definitely a bit easier, but generally he is an interesting man to describe when talking about his music. Definitely not impossible but can be tricky. Though I think with this work, it's a lot more grassy, if that makes sense. Not like a folk sounding album, that's definitely a lot more adjacent to Ommadawn, but this album, or more specifically the first part feels a lot more homegrown. This is also the part where we see a bit of Mike's charm with leitmotifs. Mike's sound is a lot more based on the relation repetition but also a sense of movement. Generally his songs have a signature melody. For Tubular Bells it was the classic jingle that is famous for its inclusion in the Excursist films, while Hergest Ridge is a long winded flute melody that soon evolved into a melody with brass instruments. This album, like the preceding album before, has a bunch of different continuous melodies, however they are a lot more expanded upon and thus a lot longer. This definitely makes the songs on this album way more fulfilling. This all comes to ahead for part one's ending, being this acoustic bit of music with a chorus in the back that goes into this bell melody, obviously resembling the finale to Tubular Bells Part 1. Due to this, it makes this album feel like a logical next step for Oldfield's sound. However I do have to give my critique where it is due, and that is this song feels a lot more reminiscent of the previous album, clearly taking major notes from it, like the ending with the bells, but also the use of continuous and long winded melodies. I am not saying it is bad, in fact I like it a lot, it gives his albums before and afterwards a sense of growth and evolution from one to another, but here you could tell some things are more based off Tubular Bells than something completely original. Just a small nitpick to an otherwise good song.Then we have part two. It still carries the same kind of feeling part one has, even including the leitmotif at the beginning to some effect, similar type of feeling too. However, that is all in the first half of the song. The second half is this extremely noisy guitar melody. Not metal in a sense, but you can definitely feel Mike cranking up the amps for this bit. I do admit though, it goes on a bit too long for my liking. However it is all worth it, because the ending, like the first part, has a nice pay off, with a melody that evolves from the signature leitmotif of the first part. It makes these parts feel a lot more connected and generally a lot smoother of an experience than the previous album. However I do feel like this has a problem, one which is the opposite to the problems of the first part. This part feels very removed from Mike's style. It's not poppy, or overly simplistic, but the part with the guitar and how long it is, it makes this part in particular less Oldfield and more like somebody trying to make his style more hard hitting and overdriven, and not working all too well in their favor. However besides that one critique this part is definitely still as good as the first, and definitely an enjoyable listen.Overall I think this album is a very nice romp through Mike's signature style. Obviously I do think sometimes it feels too much like Tubular Bells at points and that overdriven guitar segment can be annoying, but I wouldn't call this album bad and certainly one I'd recommend to anyone wanting to get more into Mike Oldfield. social review comments Review PermalinkPosted Sunday, May 22, 2022 Review this album Report (Review #2755957)
New-Age, electronica, chill-out, ambient and lightly symphonic styles, not to mention the music of a range of cultures from around the world are filtered into approachable shorter compositions here, although Mike's instantly recognisable guitar playing is frequently front and center. In several moments, the results are somewhat comparable to the more exotic period of Tangerine Dream that began around the mid-Nineties, or even Jean-Michel Jarre's poppy electronic crossover approach on his modern albums.The carefully crafted pieces here are predominantly instrumental, however occasional spoken word passages and soothing singing will pop up. Despite not being as complex as his grander works, Oldfield's mastery over numerous instruments and a range of modern production techniques is still evident, and some musical motifs and themes that pop up throughout are memorable and engaging.Looking at some of the highlights, the laid-back synth sighs, punchy programmed beats and mellow guitar strains of opener `Misty' have that accessible Jean-Michel Jarre-like appeal. `Viper' is more strident with eastern-flavoured programmed percussion, the acoustic `Turtle Bridge' is romantic and tranquil, and there's gorgeous Mellotron-like veils that skip around the first half of `Fire Fly'. Michael's sister Sally delivers breathy spoken-word and sighing harmonies here and there throughout the disc, and there's even a lyrically positive pop tune in `To Be Free'.`No Mans Land' and its album closing reprise is the absolute standout moment, a softly striking theme from blissful synth strains that rise and fall around a repeating electric piano motif, while shimmering guitar reaches flit in and out.Many will look upon this album as lightweight, throwaway, even bland, but it's also melodic, tasteful, gentle, undemanding and really rather lovely. Perhaps there's not always a lot of depth, and Oldfield's approach to the various genres mentioned above are perhaps not particularly original or distinctive here, but `Tr3s Lunas' still has enough to offer more undemanding or easy-going fans.Three stars. social review comments Review PermalinkPosted Thursday, April 28, 2022 Review this album Report (Review #2739797)
Modern Talking Back For Good (The 7th Album) (1998).rar
_Hosono_-_Tropical_dandy.rar.html"This and the following are in the tropical vein. Produced by Hosono & Tin Pan Alley. The song Honeymoon from Medicine Compilation appears in it's original version on this album. Non Electronic. "" I thought I would review this album as I took a complete gamble on it - and was pleasantly suprised. If you've been tracking down HH work then you've probably been looking towards his electronic outings, much the same as me. The trouble is if you work your way back from Y.M.O then there's a big chunk of his catalogue missing > 'COOCHIN MOON'!! So you end up jumping from kind of full on electro to electronic exotica material (PARASIO). It seems a bit shallow but as I knew this album was non electronic I was in two minds whether to buy it. Then I thought well I like exotica material, I like Hosono's material...blah dee blah...and I ended up with a funny, entertaining, quaint Tropical Dandy. ...all aboard the cruise liner!
"After several years in YMO, HH released a slightly sparse but first-rate electronic solo album of alternating quirky songs and ambient-type instrumentals. Landmark early use of sampling. An intersting companion to YMO's album from this period Technodelic. Takahashi, Tachibana, Ueno all guest. 1982 was sort of a year off for YMO because Sakamoto was involved with acting and scoring Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence and Hosono used the time to produce a lot of work for others and make this album.""If your a fan of y.m.o you'll love this cd, it's kind of a long the same vein as 'technodelic'. Song's like LDK would have quite easily sat in the recording. Within the first few seconds of the first track PICNIC you know what your gonna get. Beautifully odd strange electronics leading straight in to a load of robots singing their song as they go on a day out. The next song FUNICULI FUNICULA seems to be a national anthem for some kind of army stuck in a video game...honest...you'll be huming it as well! Harry Hosono manages to make the most quirkiest music beautiful he kind of catches you off guard. One minute it's all tongue in cheek the next he puts up some straight forward(ish) electro it's a mixture of both instrumental and words all be them odd; 'my loves like a tear-jerker, like mouldy junk food' but anyway a good album if you want a bit of fun and can listen to music that doesn't take itself too seriously... I wouldn't play it to anyone though!"VIDEO GAME MUSIC (1984)Genre:ElectronicStyle:Abstract, ElectroTracklist:01 Xevious02 Bosconian03 Pac-Man04 Phozon05 Mappy06 Libble Rabble07 Pole Position08 New Rally-X09 Dig Dug10 GalagaLink to download: _game_music.rar.html"A full length album of early-ish arcade game music and sound effects from Namco. This was the first full album of this kind of music, now a whole genre in Japan. Hosono arranges and produces (does not compose). Be warned-- this sounds like video games, not much like HH. This is not a Hosono solo album per se, but it is produced by him and a different 12" single came out featuring him performing. "
"A sampler of un-released music for movies, TV, commercials and installation 1982-85. This is a good album to hear Hosono's vastly different styles of compositions, though the content is so varried it makes incoherent listening as a whole without programming your CD player. "MERCURIC DANCE (1985)Genre:ElectronicStyle:Experimental, AmbientTracklist:01 Sunnyside of the Water02 Mercuric Dance03 Formation of the Venus04 Down to the Earth05 Fossil of Flame - Fifty Bell-Trees06 Prepared Quartz07 Sea of tau08 Windy Land09 To the AirLink to download: =0936326cdc54bb564ee79896f84acd69"All synth with a bit of percussion, though rather monochromatic. Recorded 1983-4. For a modern dance ensemble. A video version was once availablet."PARADISE VIEW (soundtrack) (1985)Genre:ElectronicStyle:Experimental, AmbientTracklist:01 The Image of a Paradise02 The Image of a View03 Mabui Dance04 Yuta's Pray05 Atti06 Wheels on Fire07 The Truck on the Sea08 Roochoo Jazz09 The Paradise ViewLink to download: _Hosono_-_Paradise_view.rar.html"An album of very interesting, sampled and re-assembled Okinawan music with an emphasis on gamelan-like sounds. I got a chuckle when a Village Voice film critic commented on the wonderful, authentic Okinawan score ("authentic" Hosono and his K250 that is). In the film, Hosono plays a supporting role as a sensitive, but out of his element Japanese grade school teacher transplanted to Okinawa. The big in-joke is that one of the teenage girls in the story has a YMO shrine in her room and seems quite infatuated, yet has no apparent interest in her school teacher and his resembalance to a YMO member. This was the first Okinawan language feature film and according to the IMDB co-stars Jun Togawa though when I saw the film quite some time ago I didn't know what she looked like or had a translation of the cast list. "THE TALE OF GENJI (soundtrack) (1987)Tracklist:01 Tsukiyomi 3.0302 Rajyoumon 4.1003 Fujitsubo 3.0304 Asatsuyu 3.0405 Wakamurasaki 3.4306 Miyasundokoro 2.5907 Ukihashi 3.5708 Kechigan 3.0209 Samidare 6.4610 Hikari 3.0611 Kodama 5.1612 Mai 5.45link to download: _tale_of_genji.rar.html"A fascinating, traditional-sounding Japanese score with a large amount of lush synth work. A very rich and dream-like score for an animated film. recorded in 1987 Very nice CD cover art. U.S. video released 1995. This and the later album Naga, while not identical in style, are not unrelated either. Out of print?Footlight records and Japanese used shops still have some. 32-8H-148 was the the initial release cat# and came in a cardboard box. I've never seen what else (presumably bookletwise) is contained in the box. I believe it is considered the first novel ever. The video was available in the U.S. in the mid 90sGenji Monogatari was written by Murasaki Shikibu in about 950. It's a fictional story of a life of a Japanese aristocratic man.The names of tunes are related to the characters of Genji Monogatari. (info from MIEKO SUZUKI)"OMNI SIGHT SEEING (1989)Genre:ElectronicStyle:Downtempo, Synth-pop, AmbientTracklist:01 Esashi 1.5002 Andadura 6.2303 Orgone Box 6.0504 Ohenro-San 2.4405 Caravan 4.1606 Retort 3.3307 Laugh-Gas 11.2608 Korendor 5.2509 Pleocene 6.12 Link to download: "Songs and instrumentals with a world and even off-world :-) flavor. It includes nods to Duke Ellington and Wilhelm Reich. This is the kind of techno pop he does best."MEDICINE COMPILATION FROM QUIET LODGE (1993)Genre:ElectronicStyle:Ambient, Synth-pop, DowntempoTracklist:01 Laughter Meditation 8.0502 Honey Moon 5.0403 Deira 3.2304 Quiet Lodge Edit 5.2605 Medicine Mix 6.3206 Sand Storm Edit 3.3907 Mabui Dance #2 9.4608 Aiwoiwaiou 6.2309 Armenian Orientation 10.3610 Ambient Meditation 4.04Link to download: _Hosono_-_Medicine_compilation_from_the_quiet_lodge.rar.html
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